Daniel is thrown into the den of lions. Such a den was usually a place where about ten lions were kept—a den in the ground which had an opening at the top. That opening was the entrance and exit; it was also the only way to look inside.
The lions were generally given enough food so that they could survive but they were always hungry. The lions were kept in this state so that the people who were convicted could be thrown right into the lions’ den and would be immediately attacked by the lions.
Darius realizes that there is nothing more he can do. He hopes that the God whom Daniel serves so faithfully will protect and deliver him. Darius is hoping that the Lord will show that the king is not a god and that the Lord will in fact intervene from heaven. We see here that Darius is doing something that is contrary to the law that he himself has enacted. He calls on the God of Daniel for help. Darius goes home as a powerless god.
16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”